and focus our defense capacities. to counter external threats. >> many gulf states are ruled by sunni muslims, but shias are staging anti-government campaigns in bahrain and saudi arabia. governments in the region say shia-dominated iran is instigating the protests. the council members also said they would push for the resignation of syrian president bashar al assad, an ally of iran. >>> officials in okinawa prefecture have requested the japanese government to scrutinize u.s. osprey flights. they say the military aircraft had over 300 safety violations in the first two months after deployment at the futenma air station. the officials sent their survey result results to the government on tuesday. according to their accounts, violations include 315 flights over schools, hospitals, and densely populated areas. the transport aircraft can function as both a helicopter and airplane. on 74 occasions the aircraft was flying in helicopter mode, which is considered unstable. under the agreement with japan the u.s. military has